National League Wins All-Star Game, Ending 14 Year Drought

Receive the latest sports updates in your inbox

ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 13: National League celebrates after their win in the 81st MLB All-Star Game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. The National League defeated the American League 3-1 for their first win the All-Star Game since 1996. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Updated at 10:38 AM EST on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010

The National League's long string of futility is finally over, thanks to one swing of the bat.

Atlanta's Brian McCann smacked a three-run double in the seventh inning to give the NL all the offense it needed to capture its first All-Star game win since 1996 with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night in Anaheim.

Top Sports Photos

In a year of dominant pitching, young starters David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays and Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies set the tone and they even got an assist from the tricky shadows that draped Angel Stadium. Nearly the entire field was bathed in odd patterns of sunlight for a twilight first pitch, creating more awkward swings and misses than usual in baseball’s annual talent show.

Marlon Byrd of the Chicago Cubs made a key defensive play in the 9th inning to stop a late American League rally, throwing out Boston's David Ortiz at second base from right field on a force play.

Hot Athletes

Matt Capps of the Washington Nationals got the win and Jonathan Broxton of the Los Angeles Dodgers recorded the save.

The National League win earns the Senior Circuit's champion home-field advantage in this year's World Series.